My Approach to Helping

The idea of sharing your secrets with a stranger in therapy is more than a little weird. I get it. But I also know that the relationship between a therapist and client is the key to success in therapy. Without a trusting relationship, exploring your personal struggles and growing is nearly impossible. We'll work together to help you grow, at a pace that's comfortable for you. I treat my clients the way I would want anyone I cared about to be treated -- with compassion, respect, genuineness, and honesty. I believe that therapy can be fun, not just valuable and constructive.

Real change can't just happen in an office. Instead, the goal of therapy is for you to use what we've discussed in your sessions in the outside world. Therapy aims to give you the tools to handle everyday challenges, but is not a one size fits all approach. Instead, we'll work together to identify your unique patterns and choices, and to devise a plan that fits your needs and lifestyle.

I offer calm, interactive counseling, and I've worked with a diverse variety of populations. I find that play therapy helps children and adolescents focus their energy on expressing their feelings. I use clay, arts and crafts, board games, puppets, dolls, music, and even sports as avenues for children to open up and explore. Getting down on the floor and playing helps me establish a rapport. Doing so helps me build trust, add humanity to therapy, and move the relationship forward.

I shine in crisis situations. I can calmly and effectively manage challenging situations, drawing on more than seven years of experience working in emergency rooms. I've handled mental illness, suicide evaluations, behavioral challenges, grief counseling, and psychiatric hospitalizations.

My experience in both crisis and outpatient settings helps me recognize when a client needs additional help in the form of a referral, medication, or hospitalization. I can't prescribe medication, but I do work with on-site psychiatrists who can.
I offer warm support with a sense of humor, and I balance sharp critical thinking skills with a strong intuition.

More Info About My Practice

I am not currently accepting insurance. My rate is $95 an hour. I do work on a sliding scale for clients that need it. I have evening and after school hours available.

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

I have worked a lot with teenage daughters and mothers who are having issues communicating. It is a population that sparks can fly but overall love is still the prominent emotion.

What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist

I love being a therapist because I get the chance to see people make positive changes in their lives. I get to be part of a process which includes coming up with fun and creative ways to help people make changes and break old patterns. Not to mention I enjoy playing games with my younger clients and using music with my teen clients.